[Discuss] Windows internal Reset feature vs CD/ USB clean install

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Which way would you recommend to start with a clean Windows?

I want start with a clean one so i can start with better config then before and also i move this config from a old Intel to new AMD.
PC looks still clean so far (like last years) and different tools doesn't show any problems.

I also ask myself if i should wait for 2004 build with the clean install or not. Currently i use 1909
 
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Gandalf_The_Grey said:
I believe a full clean install does include formatting your drives.
Click to expand...
That's the question. As i know, the internal Reset feature make a full clean install but i don't know how "full" it is. Does it only delete all files + renew Windows files? What's then with stuff like Bootloader and maybe activated Device Guard, ..

Gandalf_The_Grey said:
But don't forget to backup your files and software licences!
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My files got regular saved and the only licence (Windows) isn't a problem any longer, cause i connect it with my Microsoft account so i only need to once login with that, and get the license. Then a offline account is possible again.
But i guess this isn't required if internal Reset feature is used, so one bonus for the internal method.
 
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security123 said:
That's the question. As i know, the internal Reset feature make a full clean install but i don't know how "full" it is. Does it only delete all files + renew Windows files? What's then with stuff like Bootloader and maybe activated Device Guard, ..


My files got regular saved and the only licence (Windows) isn't a problem any longer, cause i connect it with my Microsoft account so i only need to once login with that, and get the license. Then a offline account is possible again.
But i guess this isn't required if internal Reset feature is used, so one bonus for the internal method.
Click to expand...
With the last reset I was not offered the option to format my drives, so it's not a full clean install.
 
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The 2004 build provide a new feature which download Windows from internet and then install it, which i guess comes a realy clean install close?
 
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The internal 'Reset this PC' has additional options you can enable to erase/clean drives for a clean install. Please see the below screenshots.

Reset this PC - Main Screen
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Reset this P'C - Additional settings
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Reset this PC - 'Data erasure' and 'Data drives' options enabled
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Reset this PC - Show me the list of drives that will be affected
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Reset this PC - Drives that will be affected
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Protomartyr said:
The internal 'Reset this PC' has additional options you can enable to erase/clean drives for a clean install. Please see the below screenshots.
Click to expand...


Yes this is what i mean.
But it doesn't format the drive? At least i doesn't know how that will be work from a running Windows.
Anyway the question is if a format is even necessary or recommend for a "realy" clean install.
 
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I'm running v. 2004 now, it's quite stable. I don't know what hardware you have but there are "optional updates" that feature various drivers from Intel and AMD (yes, AMD driver offered on an Intel machine :rolleyes:). I don't touch them with a ten foot pole. What I do, I download the drivers I need beforehand, clean-install, then access Windows.old to retrieve them. Very easy. So, I don't know whether that driver update feature is going to make it to the 2004 release.

I'm siding with others who say: Wait until 2004's ISO is officially released and then cleanly install it. Right now it needs various refinements: too many ESENT warnings typical of these beta builds, shutdown is prolonged several seconds compared to 1909, notices with yellow exclamation marks that "updates are in progress" when there are none in the queue, and so on. Under the hood, who knows. 1909 is superior in performance to beta 2004 on here at the moment. That I can tell you.

Windows re-partitioned my drive when I installed an earlier Insiders build over v. 1909 a while back and I ended up with 2 extra recovery partitions. I merged them with the C partition via diskpart and promptly got a boot failure. When I re-installed Windows 1909 via USB ISO, the partitions were back to the normal 3. So, I would be careful there, very careful, and let Windows handle the formatting.
 
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security123 said:
Yes this is what i mean.
But it doesn't format the drive? At least i doesn't know how that will be work from a running Windows.
Anyway the question is if a format is even necessary or recommend for a "realy" clean install.
Click to expand...
You don't get an option to create partitions or choose which drive to install Windows with 'Reset this PC'. That's a downside with using the internal option.

What happens when you use 'Reset this PC':
  1. The PC boots into Windows RE, the Windows Recovery Environment
  2. Windows RE erases and formats the Windows partitions before installing a fresh copy of Windows.
  3. The PC restarts into the new copy of Windows.
Another thing to take note of is that if the PC manufacturer included bloatware in your install of Windows, the internal reset option will include the bloatware from my understanding. I don't have a method of testing this as I was using a custom built PC and had to install the OS myself.

www.howtogeek.com

Everything You Need to Know About “Reset This PC” in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Windows includes a “Reset your PC” option that quickly restores Windows to its factory default configuration. It’s faster and more convenient than reinstalling Windows 10 or Windows 11 from scratch.
www.howtogeek.com www.howtogeek.com
 
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